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Zendervai Visiting from the Hoag Galaxy from St. Catharines Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Wishing you were here
Visiting from the Hoag Galaxy
#217576: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:05:11 PM

[up][up][up][up][up] Are you sure you meant implausible there? It means possible, but really unlikely.

Trump's understanding of the world is simplistic at best. He was raised on Cold War propaganda and internalized it...and apparently nothing else whatsoever. He thinks he can make the rest of the world fear the US, but what happens when one member of a group makes literally everyone else in the group scared of them? The rest of the group revolts. If Trump continues with the random threats, there's likely to be at least the first steps in a massive power realignment focusing around China, because China is the only one out of the superpowers that's actually been trying to gain goodwill in the past year.

edited 8th Nov '17 7:06:27 PM by Zendervai

Not Three Laws compliant.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#217577: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:05:20 PM

The GOP spent decades, helped by rightwing media like FOX News, cultivating their base. The Democratic Party by contrast tried becoming more egalitarian. As a result, the Democratic Party is winning the culture war at the cost of an electoral advantage. The Democratic Party arguably has the larger potential voter base, but it has to negotiate and woo its base into actually going to the polls.

If Trump continues with the random threats, there's likely to be at least the first steps in a massive power realignment focusing around China, because China is the only one out of the three superpowers that's actually been trying to gain goodwill in the past year.

I really hope other nations aren't stupid enough to fully buy into Xi Jinping's Villain with Good Publicity act.

edited 8th Nov '17 7:06:30 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#217578: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:08:01 PM

China isn't a superpower. They can barely exist outside their borders and are sitting on one of the most unstable economies in the world right now.

Even locally they have difficulty exerting any sort of control, be it through soft power or military projection.

Oh really when?
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#217579: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:08:12 PM

Are you sure you meant implausible there? It means possible, but really unlikely.
I did, I believe it's mathematically possible but incredibly unlikely.

China isn't a superpower. They can barely exist outside their borders and are sitting on one of the most unstable economies in the world right now. Even locally they have difficulty exerting any sort of control, be it through soft power or military projection.
Very true, it kind of reminds me of how in the 90's everyone assumed that Japan was inevitably going to take over the world until they suddenly didn't.

edited 8th Nov '17 7:09:45 PM by Fourthspartan56

"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -Hylarn
Zendervai Visiting from the Hoag Galaxy from St. Catharines Since: Oct, 2009 Relationship Status: Wishing you were here
Visiting from the Hoag Galaxy
#217580: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:12:16 PM

I'm not saying a realignment like that would be at all a good idea, but I do know that to a lot of countries, China's looking increasingly good because the other options are Russia, who annexed part of a country and are screwing with elections all over the place, the US, which is being run by a blithering idiot and a party of hypocritical lunatics and the EU which is currently dealing with the enormous mess that is Brexit, as well as the gigantic issue that is the Catalan independence movement.

If the EU goes through Brexit okay and the Catalan thing doesn't explode, the EU is the most likely to take the top position if Trump successfully destroys the USA's foreign influence.

edited 8th Nov '17 7:12:52 PM by Zendervai

Not Three Laws compliant.
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#217581: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:12:52 PM

I suspect that China's economy is even worse than it looks, and the main reason we don't know more details is because the CCP tries very hard to keep information from leaking.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#217582: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:15:26 PM

[up]Cause hiding the rot did wonders for the Soviets....

[up][up]Better hope that the EU invests in hard power in addition to soft influence. Someone needs to pick up the guns and defend liberal democracy, and if the US bows out....its down to Europe for the most part.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
GamesandTropes Since: Jul, 2011
#217583: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:15:44 PM

[up][up]Not to mention that China's got a serious demographic crisis as a result of the One-Child policy.

It's getting older, and most of the children are boys. There are too-few girls, and most of the girls are being put in orphanages, and quite a few of them are going to other countries. On the bright side, the minorities have growing family sizes...

edited 8th Nov '17 7:15:56 PM by GamesandTropes

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#217584: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:17:05 PM

[up] China's Politburo is a perfect illustration of the demographic issue in China. There is one woman in it. And that's an improvement.

Disgusted, but not surprised
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#217585: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:19:37 PM

And a lot of relatively well off/educated Chinese are emigrating/staying in the countries they went to school in. Sure, they aren't in trouble now, but if things get dicey, say hello to a brain drain.

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
TacticalFox88 from USA Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Dating the Doctor
#217586: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:20:42 PM

[[https://twitter.com/tomwatson/status/928435369267392512 "People are not happy with Democrats." - Senator Sanders, just now on CNN Dems In Disarray]]

Fuck, Bernie.

Full stop.

edited 8th Nov '17 7:21:08 PM by TacticalFox88

New Survey coming this weekend!
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#217587: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:21:41 PM

[up][up] Which is even worse considering China already suffered a severe loss of brain power thanks to Mao's Cultural Revolution. China lost a lot of intellectuals in that time. It's only now recovering from those years.

[up] WTF Bernie?! Just...WTF?!

The Democratic Party just won major electoral victories, and he's shitting on it!

Is he just miffed that a more "progressive" candidate didn't win?

That's it. I'm done giving Bernie Sanders the benefit of the doubt.

At least he didn't say this before the elections, which at least makes him better than Warren.

edited 8th Nov '17 7:25:48 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
KarkatTheDalek Not as angry as the name would suggest. from Somwhere in Time/Space Since: Mar, 2012 Relationship Status: You're a beautiful woman, probably
Not as angry as the name would suggest.
#217588: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:27:02 PM

Perhaps we should get the whole quote here, rather than a single tweet that might be taken out of context somewhat.

Does anyone have clip of this or something?

Oh God! Natural light!
Rationalinsanity from Halifax, Canada Since: Aug, 2010 Relationship Status: It's complicated
#217589: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:27:59 PM

Should be noted that after his preferred candidate in Virginia lost, he backed off...

Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.
Ludlow Since: Apr, 2013
#217590: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:40:30 PM

[up][up] But why? Why waste a perfectly good opportunity to shit on Bernie Sanders and prove how superior they all are to the brainless Bernie cult.

LeGarcon Blowout soon fellow Stalker from Skadovsk Since: Aug, 2013 Relationship Status: Gay for Big Boss
Blowout soon fellow Stalker
#217591: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:41:43 PM

Hey if he can stop being an idiot at best and an actively hostile presence at worst then we'll stop criticizing him.

Oh really when?
Fourthspartan56 from Georgia, US Since: Oct, 2016 Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#217592: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:44:35 PM

But why? Why waste a perfectly good opportunity to shit on Bernie Sanders and prove how superior they all are to the brainless Bernie cult.
Pfft, firstly that's a nice strawman. No-one insulted Bernie supporters, but the man himself should not be talking about that shit when we're doing well. At best it's just massively tone deaf and insensitive at worst he's just throwing shade because his chosen candidate lost.

edited 8th Nov '17 7:45:06 PM by Fourthspartan56

"Sandwiches are probably easier to fix than the actual problems" -Hylarn
SilentColossus (Old as dirt)
#217593: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:49:55 PM

Look, I can see the desire to want to make Democrats be better when it comes to things like sanctuary cities. Sometimes if you settle for too little you get nothing. But at the same time, throwing shit at more moderate Democrats increases voter apathy, which benefits the GOP.

Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#217594: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:59:05 PM

I'm not sure why Sanders thinks that throwing shade at the Democrats is going to be a net positive for him. Sure it's nice to have that "outsider" label for political capital but at a certain point you have to accept you can do more in the party than outside it. It would be a lot easier for him to actually lay the groundwork for accomplishing his goals if he played ball.

It's not like he has to roll over but a more enthusiastic response would be better given what a major victory this is. It's starting to sound like he cares more about "winning" on his own terms as opposed to the country improving.

edited 8th Nov '17 7:59:52 PM by Draghinazzo

tclittle Professional Forum Ninja from Somewhere Down in Texas Since: Apr, 2010
Professional Forum Ninja
#217595: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:59:21 PM

Nazi and former Trump aide Sebastian Gorka gor hired on at Fox News as a National Security advisor.

"We're all paper, we're all scissors, we're all fightin' with our mirrors, scared we'll never find somebody to love."
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#217596: Nov 8th 2017 at 7:59:54 PM

[up][up]

It's not like he has to roll over but a more enthusiastic response would be better given what a major victory this is. It's starting to sound like he cares more about "winning" on his own terms as opposed to the country improving.

As far as he's concerned, him winning is required for the country to improve.

[up] And FOX News sinks to a new low...is what I'd like to say. But let's face it, they have always been this shitty.

edited 8th Nov '17 8:01:18 PM by M84

Disgusted, but not surprised
BearyScary Since: Sep, 2010 Relationship Status: [TOP SECRET]
#217597: Nov 8th 2017 at 8:06:17 PM

When will people wise up and realize that Fox News is not their friend?

I liked it better when Questionable Casting was called WTH Casting Agency
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#217598: Nov 8th 2017 at 8:09:17 PM

[up] As long as FOX News keeps giving them a narrative that supports their worldview, it's not going to happen.

Disgusted, but not surprised
LinkToTheFuture A real bad hombre from somewhere completely different Since: Apr, 2015 Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
A real bad hombre
#217599: Nov 8th 2017 at 8:11:25 PM

That CNN thing...yikes. I'm all for blocking the merger if it is truly anti-competitive, but if they are specifically singling out CNN without truly compelling justification, that makes me feel nervous.

Unrelated, but in that article about the PA Trump voters I found that one dude interesting, the one that said he watches CNN from time to time but generally finds it more "fake news"-y than Fox, which he said was "more often correct". I wonder if any studies have been done to show what standards people have for "correct" (I know the real answer is almost certainly "conforms to my worldview", but I think it'd be interesting to take a more detailed look)

edited 8th Nov '17 8:13:25 PM by LinkToTheFuture

"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." -Thomas Edison
Draghinazzo (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: I get a feeling so complicated...
#217600: Nov 8th 2017 at 8:12:17 PM

If you grow up in a Fox News environment it's tough to get out of it. The right wing media machine, while devoid of positive qualities, is nonetheless ruthlessly efficient.


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